100 Years of Unity: Violet Oakley retrospective celebrates the famous muralist.

March 29, 2019 | by Priscilla Morales

When visiting Harrisburg, visitors often will check out the state Capitol building, the most popular tourist site in the city.

This majestic building has been a fixture of the city’s skyline for more than a century. On Saturday mornings, people often are found taking selfies, with the grand dome in the background.

Some will come in for group and self-guided tours, walking through the Rotunda, Senate Chamber, Supreme Courtroom and the House Chamber. With the start of a new exhibit series, the Senate Library has recently made its way into the loop of stops.

“I first got inspired from a family trip to D.C.,” said Megan Martin, the secretary and parliamentarian of the PA Senate. “[The Senate Library] is really a smaller scale of the Library of Congress. I wanted to tell the story of the library in a visual way and mimic a museum, swapping out [exhibits].”

Martin, the first woman in her position, pitched the idea of “The Legacy Project” in November 2017, before presenting the opening exhibit last year. She believes showcasing people who have contributed to the library is important as it enhances the visitor’s experience.

“We’re hoping the exhibit will be appealing and accessible to international visitors,” said Sarah Greenwald, curator and project manager. “We want to share the common history of the lesser known and humanize and highlight the forgotten.”

The premier exhibit, “Inspired. Uncovered. Honored. The Untold Institutional History of the Pennsylvania Senate,” focused largely on the people who ensured preservation of the valuable legislative record, retaining the Senate’s inaugural session and early proceedings.

The current exhibit, “Spirit & Substance: 100 Years of Violet Oakley, Capitol Muralist,” focuses on the painter responsible for some of the most iconic artwork in the statehouse. The exhibit displays a timeline of events, facts about the artist, an explanation of the six themes outlined in the murals, textual artifacts and an overview of Oakley’s vision.

“[Oakley’s] work is 100 years old, and it’s as beautiful, relevant and inspirational as ever,” said Evelyn Andrews, the PA Senate librarian. “The message hasn’t faded in time.”

In 1906, the current Capitol building completed construction, and Oakley went to work producing her signature murals, which were based on ideals from history and literature in Renaissance revival styles.

In January 1919, she finished her Senate chamber murals, a milestone that the exhibit commemorates. So, it’s important to visit both the exhibit and those famous murals.

In the Senate chamber, images from 19th-century Pennsylvania abound, as do themes of equality, freedom, justice and peace. The center mural, “International Unity and Understanding,” displays swords beaten into ploughshares, with Italian poet Dante offering “fruits of culture” to the crowds. At center, a giant figure, with open arms, wears a blue gown that transforms into the waters of life.

The mural echoed on a personal level for Oakley, as she fought for unity and equality in her own life. As the first American woman to receive a public mural commission, she didn’t let the societal norms of her day prevent her from doing what she loved.

Within the Capitol, the Supreme Courtroom and the Governors Grand Reception Room feature more of Oakley’s 43 murals. It’s important to remember that, at the time, women didn’t even have the right to vote, as the 19th amendment wasn’t ratified until 1920.

“Her values are still relevant today,” Greenwald said. “[Oakley] empowers women and enables women to continue to lead using their talents.”

Looking ahead, the Senate Library plans to commemorate Memorial Day with a military display, “We Remember: Service to the State and Nation,” continuing with a seasonal rotation of exhibits throughout the year.

“The project has turned out better than what I thought when I first presented the idea,” Martin said. “It’s been really exciting to tell the stories for generations to come, to put out something that’s educational and fascinating on the message of Oakley.”

For more information on the PA Senate Library and featured exhibits, visit www.library.pasen.gov or download the PA Capitol’s new mobile app at www.pacapitol.com/mobile-apps.

Harrisburg Sweet Home: 2018 marked a strong year for real estate sales in the city.

March 29, 2019 | by Maddie Crocenzi

Burg in Focus: Harrisburg Real Estate from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Pam Kotz and her husband lived in the north end of Harrisburg on N. 2nd Street for 30 years.

They raised their kids in the Riverside neighborhood, thinking of it as more of a small town than a large city. They had great neighbors. They got involved in the neighborhood watch. There was a Halloween parade. Pam even delivered the neighborhood newsletter.

When they decided to put that house on the market in 2011, it was at the end of the Great Recession. Pam said it was “timed really poorly,” and the home didn’t sell until 2015.

The couple moved out of the city to Susquehanna Township, thinking they would enjoy the change of pace. Instead, they found the suburbs were more hectic and congested, making their way of living more stressful.

“We lived across from people for three years, and we never met,” Pam said.

So, the Kotzes decided to move again. But this time, they found a very different housing market from the one they left. They saw a house on the 500-block of Antoine Street online on a Tuesday night and contacted their realtor Wendell Hoover. They saw the house near Italian Lake on Wednesday morning and quickly put in an offer.

“I’m telling you what, we’re very fortunate,” Pam said of their new home. “I know things are improving even that much more.”

Happy, Staying

The Kotzes’ story isn’t unique. Hoover, with Iron Valley Real Estate of Central PA, has lived in the city for 20 years and worked as a realtor for 10. He’s noticed a record low number of houses for sale in the city.

Hoover’s data clearly shows the improvement in the city’s housing market. Last year boasted the second-best sales volume for the city in a decade (since 2009) at $43,345,219, with the greatest number of units sold at 539. It also ranked best for cumulative days on the market, with a low of 130.

Compare that to 2011, when the Kotzes first tried to sell their home. Only 269 units sold that year with a sold volume of $19,637,255. Cumulative days on the market were 180.

Ray Davis, a realtor with Howard Hanna, echoes Hoover’s optimism. Davis moved to Harrisburg in 1986 and began in real estate in 1992.

“It’s been very strong,” Davis said of the city real estate market.

He credits the growth to new developments from Midtown Cinema to restaurant row, which are causing people to stay. Davis said that fewer homes were on the market in 2018 because people were happy and staying in the city, leading to a lower inventory.

Very Quickly

The increase in home ownership has led to another development. With the market improving, Davis said that buyers are expecting more for their money. Many buyers are looking for the extremes—either a move-in-ready home or a fixer-upper that needs to be gutted.

Kate Hummel and her husband Eric fell into one of those extremes. They worked with Hoover to sell their Camp Hill townhouse and move to the Midtown area. But they had some specific requirements: a single-family home, off-street parking and a house that was move-in ready.

In August, they attempted to buy a home but weren’t fast enough. They waited until they found another one that matched their dream on the 1900-block of N. 3rd Street.

“As soon as Eric saw that this house was on the market, we knew we had to move quickly,” Kate said. “Everything went very, very quickly.”

The Midtown neighborhood has been particularly active. Hoover’s statistics show that 161 homes with the Midtown postal code of 17102 sold in 2017 and 135 in 2018. The sales volume was $18,498,076 and $16,361,454, respectively. In 2011, only 69 homes sold with a sales volume of $7,007,595.

The growth trend doesn’t only apply to homes. Justin Heinly moved to Harrisburg almost 10 years ago. When he first moved to the city, he bought a five-unit property and lived in it while he renovated it.

An engineer with a real estate license, he’s had his hand in renovating apartment buildings and a few single-family homes in the Midtown area from Maclay down to Verbeke Street. In the last three to four years, Heinly has noticed millennials waiting to buy homes, instead looking for high-quality apartments.

“If a multi-unit is put on the market at a reasonable price, it will go very quickly in today’s market,” he explained. “The only ones that will really sit on the market is if they are under-renovated and poorly priced.”

Heinly said he’s had numerous clients waiting for a multi-unit property to go on sale so they can buy it, renovate it and increase their investment. In a market where the demand is high, even the structures themselves have value.

“There have been multiple properties that I’ve purchased recently where they were structurally unstable,” Heinly explained. “There’s actually enough value in those properties that people can rehabilitate them and make them an income-producing asset. That’s probably the best thing to happen to Harrisburg in a long time.”

Hit Their Stride

The Hummels moved to Midtown because they found they were always going into the city, whether it was to go out to eat, meet up with friends or see a show. They wanted a home where it was convenient to walk to the places they enjoyed.

The couple reflects one of the reasons that Davis thinks the city is so popular for the younger generation.

“Generally, you get a younger clientele who want to be able to walk to work, the Capitol,” he said.

Some move away as they get older and start families, bringing in a new younger generation. Others stay or move back once they have an empty nest.

In their little cottage on Antoine Street, the Kotzes are hitting their stride again. Although they don’t have young kids that could participate in a neighborhood Halloween parade, they do have a two-sided yard where Pam will plant her cherry tomatoes.

“I’m surprised, and much chagrined, that I have found that, all these years I wanted to move out of the city, and actually I’m more of an in-town person,” she said. “It’s not because what I wanted was different; it’s what I found.”

Going Up

In Harrisburg city, both the number of housing units sold and the total sales volume have jumped over the past seven years.

Year Units Sold Sold Volume

2018               539                             $43,345,219
2017               522                             $41,048,419
2016               438                             $31,905,925
2015               401                             $30,635,171
2014               382                             $26,007,112
2013               313                             $19,303,048
2012               264                             $17,280,854
2011               269                             $19,637,255
2010               354                             $27,004,839

Source: Bright MLS

Teacher, Coach, Author: In retirement, Emery Cook finds another way to educate.

March 29, 2019 | by Susan Ryder

Growing up in Florida in the 1960s, Emery Cook had a tough childhood, marked by oppressive racism, poverty and bullying.

That could have created a hardened, cynical adult. Instead, Cook chose another path.

He made it his mission to educate and mentor countless students during his decades of teaching and coaching, particularly at Susquehanna Township High School.

“My parents treated people the way they wanted to be treated and always instilled that in us,” he said.

Cook’s parents also encouraged an education.

He received a basketball scholarship to West Chester University, outside of Philadelphia. After graduation, he channeled these experiences into his life, becoming an admired teacher, championship basketball coach, the first black head coach at Susquehanna Township, Central Dauphin and Carlisle high schools, a motivational speaker, and the recipient of countless awards.

Cook’s upbringing was a filter by which he taught and interacted with students and players.

“It gives me a frame of reference in understanding the various backgrounds that kids come from,” he said. “It helped me to know what kids needed—attention.”

Cook held his players to high standards, even earning the moniker, “Coach Hard Hat,” for the hat he wore when practices where going to be exceptionally tough. There were rules for behavior on and off the court, with an emphasis on respect for one another, for coaches and for opposing players.

A former student, Ellis Proctor, remembered Cook as a mentor and coach.

“He came at a really important time in my life,” Proctor said.

Moving from the Harrisburg school district to Susquehanna and away from all his friends, Proctor had a self-described attitude problem. Recalling his young self, he said, “I’m not playing [basketball] for Susquehanna. I’m a Cougar!”

At Cook’s urging, Proctor joined the lineup and was part of the 1997 PIAA AAA basketball championship team.

“They are still kids, no matter how big they are,” Cook said of his players.

What You Know

Eventually, Cook retired from teaching and coaching, falling into an unproductive routine.

“My first year in retirement, I was a lazy bum,” said. “I wouldn’t set an appointment before 11 a.m.”

But he got bored, which set the stage for the next part of his life—that of author. His 35-year habit of taking notes on daily happenings paid off by providing material for the novel he now planned.

So, he had inspiration—and content. Now he needed a way to get from here to there.

For instruction, he headed to YouTube for tutorials on writing, voice and narration. A chance meeting at a diner with a 70ish-year-old women and author yielded some key advice for writing his book.

“She said, ‘Whatever you write, make it believable. Write about what you know,’” Cook said.

With that in mind, he began chronicling the 1960s life of a middle-schooler, a boy named Joseph Graham, in a Southern town.

Much like in his own life, the boy is bullied because of his looks, needs to hide his intelligence to fit in and has to deal with poverty.

Graham’s trials send him down a dangerous path until he ricochets back, thanks to the influence of a teacher—a character named Mr. Thompson. The book deals with hard truths, but does so with the reader in mind.

“As an author, Emery cares about the reader—not the buyer,” said Nate Gadsden, a college classmate of Cook’s and eventually his book editor.

“He’s an engaging person,” Gadsden said. “Nothing seems to rattle him. He has an easy intensity about him.”

Gadsden found in Emery an astounding level of awareness of and care for his craft, especially for an author just starting out.

“He wanted to know what he was doing to the reader,” Gadsden said. “He wanted people to come to moments of truth.”

In 2017 Cook, under the pen name Cy Emery, self-published “Hiding in the Light: The Hunt,” the first book in a planned trilogy.

Cook said the book “edu-tains,” and he uses it as a part of his anti-bullying program.

Cook’s impact now extends into following generations, beyond those who he personally coached and taught.

Proctor, his former student, began Harrisburg-based Brothers and Sisters Making a Difference 11 years ago to provide the type of mentoring he received from Cook. Group members take students on college visits, to museums, provide homework checks and touch base with parents. Its mission is “to instill morals and cultivate high self-esteem” and “to provide a support system for kids who didn’t have it,” Proctor said.

Like Cook, Proctor aspires to bring light into his community and inspire those in challenging life experiences. He recognized that, without Cook’s influence, things could have turned out much differently for him

“I would have swayed,” he said.

“Hiding in the Light” is available at www.hidinginthelightthehunt.com. Watch for Cook’s second book, “Release the Light,” coming in November.

Up to the Challenge: Young actors expand their range with “As You Like It.”

March 29, 2019 | by Meghan Jones

Photo by Kelly Ann Shuler

The word “immature” should not be used to describe members of Gamut Theatre Group’s Young Acting Company.

Though all are students with ages ranging from 6 to 19, when they get on stage, they are not kids. They are experienced professionals.

For the past nine years, Gamut has put on a large-scale production of a classic story acted entirely by young people. While stories have previously ranged from fairy tales to coming-of-age stories to big adventures, this year, the Young Acting Company is trying something new. They will be putting on a production of William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”

Director Melissa Nicholson said that, while they have previously never done a Shakespeare play for this production, she felt that the students were up to the task of handling and working with more challenging material. The early-modern language is typically a barrier for young people when approaching Shakespeare, and it is probably the most dreaded thing covered in a high school English class—teenagers abounding with claims of “too hard” and “olde English.”

Gamut, as a theater company, has always been devoted to making classic stories accessible. Where the language seems confusing at first, the ideas still resonate. The Harrisburg Shakespeare Company does its educational outreach production of a modified Shakespeare play that is short and easy to understand, usually with added narrators to help frame the story. Additionally, the Gamut Theatre Summer Academy hosts acting classes for four weeks, where students work with a variety of texts, including two full weeks of Shakespeare.

It is still a challenge, however, because the subtlety of the texts—and wide variety of interpretations—can be daunting.

“For the actors, the most important thing is to get the story across, regardless of your interpretation,” Nicholson said.

This is why the students undergo in-depth table work, where they discuss and analyze the text, what they are saying, and what it means to their characters.

“We focus a lot on making the story very clear and intentional, and they have been working really hard at it,” Nicholson said. “They really do most of the stuff that the adult actors do in the Main Stage productions, and they are up to the challenge.”

“As You Like It” is a Shakespeare comedy that suits all fancies. Nicholson believes that this is demonstrated by the title.

“He didn’t name it ‘Rosalind and Orlando’ or ‘The Duke’s Gone Crazy,’” she said. “By naming it ‘As You Like It,’ I think Shakespeare is sort of saying, ‘Here are all of the things you like,’ and put them in a play.”

More than a fun play, the story resonates with all ages, as it explores love and the things that happen when someone falls in love.

“We get to poke fun at being in love,” Nicholson explained. “And I think that makes the experience really relatable.”

More than just putting on the production, the Young Acting Company also provides an important mentorship opportunity. With such a wide age range, the younger students look up to and rely on the older students for support and guidance. A number of the older kids have been actors in the Young Acting Company since small children themselves.

“They understand the high standard that I hold them to, and the younger cast members see that and really emulate that,” Nicholson said.

In a way, Nicholson believes this gives her the opportunity to be and create positive role models that encourage students to pursue the arts, while honing a skill that is evident in the production.

The story within “As You Like It” reflects the fun that is central to the Young Acting Company’s goals. With a cast of more than 50 actors, they are able to create a tiny world for the play.

“In many of the shows we do, we try to keep our cast under 20 actors,” Nicholson said. “But getting the opportunity to have 50 or more actors really allows you to think creatively in presenting a whole village or crowd to the audience.”

These crowd scenes help to communicate the tone and attitude of scenes that the audience tends to imitate. In addition, it gives the ensemble the ability to play with the environment surrounding the story, giving the play depth and interest that can be lost in a show with a smaller cast.

All of this contributes to the immersive and developed experience that is a Young Acting Company production.

“You don’t have to be a kid or have a kid to watch these shows,” Nicholson said. “Really, these young people are so talented, and they make the story so clear, and they have fun while they’re doing it.”

“As You Like It,” performed by Gamut Theatre Group’s Young Acting Company, runs April 12 to 14 at Gamut Theatre, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

Young Acting Company
Presents William Shakespeare’s
“As You Like It”
April 12 to 14
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

TMI April Show
April 18
7:30 p.m.

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“A Wrinkle in Time”
April 11 to 14
Madeline L’Engle’s classic novel is brought to life by the OSHKids Performance Company.

“The Kids You Read About in Textbooks”
April 7, 14, 28 at 7 p.m.
At the Susquehanna Art Museum
Kids react to the political and social issues that face their generation.

“RENT: School Edition”
April 25 to 28
The Teen Studio at the Alsedek Theatre School presents this groundbreaking musical.

Musical Theatre Master Class
With Lara Hayhurst & Trey Compton
May 6 at 7 p.m.

Artist in Focus: Samantha Sanders

March 29, 2019 | by TheBurg Editor

Leaves, fruit, vegetables, flowers.

Samantha Sanders finds inspiration in the natural world, which makes her the perfect artist to feature in our most spring-like issue of the year.

“The garden is a sacred place for me, where generations of my family have left behind a piece of themselves,” writes the Grantville native in her bio.

You may already be familiar with Samantha’s work, since one of her flowery paintings graced our cover last April. With this one-page exhibit, we’re here again to showcase her art and renew your longing for warm days and wild things.

Sure, it may still look like winter outdoors, but soon enough, berries, greens and flowers will come to life, filling your garden and adorning on your table. Samantha’s work offers an artistic preview of what’s certain to come.

For more information about Samantha Sanders and her nature-inspired paintings, drawings and works on paper, visit www.samanthalsanders.com.

A Shared Meal, a Shared Community: With roots in Jewish tradition, the Freedom Seder draws on several faiths.

March 29, 2019 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

“In every generation, a person should look at him or herself as having left Egypt.”

Those are perhaps the most emblematic words of the Haggadah—the text read at the Passover seder each year, urging those in attendance to identify with the slavery experienced by the Jews in ancient Egypt, and, by extension, those still yearning for freedom today.

In fact, Passover is known as the “festival of freedom.”

An annual event in Harrisburg brings those words from the Haggadah to life not only for the Jewish but the wider faith community.

For the past eight years, Beth El Temple and the Interdenominational Ministers Conference have co-sponsored what they call the Freedom Seder. Recently, the seder has grown even more, adding the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, said Michael Sand, who chairs the Freedom Seder Committee.

“The Rabbinic Advisory Council of Harrisburg has approved the Freedom Seder each year, and congregants from every synagogue in the area have attended,” Sand said. “Individuals also attend from a wide variety of religious faiths.”

The Freedom Seder developed from a friendship between two clergy people of two different faiths.

About a decade ago, Earl Harris, the now-retired pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, approached Rabbi Eric Cytryn, the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El, and suggested that they consider ways to bring the African American and Jewish communities closer together and to strengthen alliances first forged during the Civil Rights movement.

A few initiatives resulted—including Bible study, visits of high school students to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Freedom Seder.

Although the latter draws upon centuries of Jewish tradition, the Freedom Seder is eclectic. The IMC Citywide Revival Choir will sing freedom songs such as “Go Down Moses” and “We Shall Overcome,” while the students of the Silver Academy, the Jewish day school of Harrisburg, will recite one of the hallmarks of the seder—the “Four Questions,” which begins, “How is this night different from all other nights?”

The event also incorporates contemporary topics, with the Torah, Gospels and Koran serving as foundations.

“Each Freedom Seder has a theme,” said Sand. “This year, it’s ‘Welcoming the Stranger,’ including the immigrant community. Members of the three Abrahamic faiths will share readings from their holy books on the theme.”

Though the Freedom Seder is fairly new in the Harrisburg area, the concept isn’t.

“Since the start of the Civil Rights movement, synagogues and African-American churches have joined together to celebrate the journey from slavery to freedom,” Cytryn said.

Arthur Waskow, a Philadelphia-based rabbi and activist, had put together a little book for such celebrations, gleaning excerpts from the traditional Haggadah. Included were some quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who took part in marches with King.

“We modified the book further,” said Cytryn, keeping the Freedom Seder to about two hours. “Traditionally, it is considered meritorious for Jews to continue discussing the Exodus long into the night.”

The Haggadah at the Freedom Seder “tries to universalize things, such as when we speak of every generation seeing itself as leaving Egypt,” Cytryn said.

Like the traditional seder, the Freedom Seder encompasses a meal, which is kosher. Salmon will be served this year.

Some of the memorable moments of the Freedom Seder over the years were not the formal ones, Cytryn recalled.

“One elderly woman spoke for half an hour about growing up in the Jim Crow South,” he said. “She talked about how people came to this country in chains. Other people attending were crying.”

The seder has morphed into something “much more communal,” he added.

“It’s an opportunity for people sitting together to get to know each other, to introduce themselves and say why they’re there,” he said.

The entire community is invited to attend the Freedom Seder, held on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m., at Beth El Temple, 2637 North Front St., Harrisburg. The cost is $18. Advance registration and payment are required. Send name, address, e-mail address and payment to Beth El at 717-232-0556. For more information about Beth El Temple, visit www.bethelhbg.org.

Something Sweet: Let’s drink some sherry, darling.

March 29, 2019 | by Steve Juliana

Of all the wines in the world, the one that may cause the most confusion is a fortified quaff from Spain named after its home city.

Sherry hails from a region just west of Gibraltar around the city of Jerez. Known in England since the time of Shakespeare, it long has been a part of American culture, too. This wine was the subject of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “A Cask of Amontillado,” as well as the go-to tipple for Frasier and Niles Crane after a rough day.

The secret of this misunderstood and under-appreciated libation is the aging process called solera.

In this system, wine for bottling is removed, and the barrels are topped with younger juice in a progressive fashion to ensure continuity of character and type. In the solera-aging process, wine is not fermented but is protected by a coating of flor (a film of yeast) that floats on top of the liquid in the barrels, which contain the drier styles. Older quaffs that become dark are actually oxidized before bottling.

Sherry comes in a plethora of types and labels, which only add to the problem of choosing a variety of wine that will suit the food or occasion.

The main grapes in sherry are palomino, muscat and Pedro Ximénez, which are all white varieties.

Palomino is fermented into a dry wine but not in the sense of, say, a dry tannic cabernet. Instead, it is allowed to use all available sugar in the fruit, much like a brut naturel champagne. The juice has zero residual sugar due to complete fermentation and is then fortified with neutral grape brandy, unlike its cousin port, which uses brandy to stop fermenting and ensure the wine’s sweetness.

Muscat is mostly used for blending with dry palomino and is one of the reasons for all the different sherry labels. Pedro Ximénez is a white grape that is dried and then crushed. It has a reputation as the sweetest wine in the world and is recommended as a drizzle for ice cream.

Sherry comes in many styles that need exploring before any oenophile can make an educated choice.

Manzanilla is a fashionable and good-value, dry white wine with an austere, salty flavor. It’s a great choice with crustaceans.

Amontillado is a fino that has increased complexity and a fruitier note and is one of the better wines I have tasted.

Palo cortado fits nicely between amontillado and oloroso—rich and complex with a bitter butter note that stands up to meats and cheeses.

Oloroso is oxidized and fiercely dry, maturing into clean, nut flavors. It is called cream when blended with Pedro Ximénez or muscat to produce a medium-sweet style. Moscatel is sweet, but with only half the residual sugar of p.x., it can be used in a wide range of desserts.

Indeed, sherry is a style for anyone. Just ask Frasier and Niles.

Keep sipping,
Steve

4666 Williams and Humbert Sherry Dry Sack Jerez 750ML $16.99

An amber-coloured wine of intense aromas suggesting dried nuts. Full-bodied and balanced, with little acid and slightly sweet. It can be drunk neat or with ice. It is recommended as an aperitif or to accompany pasta.

–Distiller’s notes

4788 Christian Brothers Cream Sherry California 1.5 L $10.99

The Christian Brothers Cream Sherry has been a popular alternative to aperitifs and after dinner wines. With its full-bodied caramelized character, Cream Sherry makes a wonderful complement to chocolate and sweet desserts, or it can be enjoyed as a smooth and mellow sipping wine throughout the evening.

–Winemaker’s notes

44664 Orleans Borbon Manzanilla Sherry Non Vintage 375ML $11.99

Straw in color with tangy aromas of the sea rounded out by fruity lemon curd, almond skin, toasted bread and yeasty notes on the palate, this Manzanilla has a complexity fit for a king.

That’s In Order! Lori Reese will help organize your home, your life.

March 29, 2019 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

Lori Reese, like most kids, had a messy room growing up.

But, unlike most kids, she also enjoyed cleaning up the mess.

“I loved organizing it and tidying up,” she said. “I was always getting rid of things, but, as a kid in a family of five, that just meant putting it in the basement.”

It’s often our most innate traits that form the breeding ground for our eventual passions. This was certainly true for Reese, who, in 2014, founded Consider It Done, a company that offers expert services in planning, organizing and managing life’s transitions—i.e., downsizing, de-cluttering, organizing, household management and personal assistant support.

Though Reese’s previous work ranged from an assistant for C-suite executives to a long chapter in human resources, the world of personal organizing was long on her radar.

She cited a favorite read, Julie Morgenstern’s “Organizing from the Inside Out,” and discovering the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals as game changers in her career evolution.

“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, there are people out there doing this!’” she said. “But, at the time, I was in a different life chapter. So, I tabled the idea, but it was always there.”

It was losing a close relative, several years back, that became catalyst for her to create a next chapter, centered around work she felt passionate about.

“Losing her helped me realize that life is too short,” Reese said. “You have to seize the moment. So then I really started to get serious.”

Does That Work?

At the beginning, Consider It Done took on a broad range of projects—even developing an extensive catalog for a client’s art collection.

Today, the business, which has grown to five people, has evolved to specialize in helping people manage life’s transitions, whether that’s an estate, paperwork, downsizing, paper management or a host of other such tasks.

Reese’s zest for shepherding clients through even the most onerous projects is evident, but, let’s face it, for many of us, getting organized and knowing what to keep and what to purge isn’t something that comes easily.

So, where can the rest of us start?

“Books are a great jumping off point for self-starters,” she said.

There are many to choose from, including Marie Kondo’s recent bestseller, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”

“Using her approach is not a bad way to begin weeding out what you are ready to pare down,” Reese said. “But there’s more to being organized than just getting rid of things. It’s also about finding a system that’s right for you—one that builds off of what comes naturally to you, so you’ll be able to maintain things once you get organized.”

Reese cautioned against comparing your surroundings to what you see on TV or in magazines.

“I always say that ‘neat’ doesn’t have to mean ‘pretty,’” she said.

As an example, she mentioned a client who preferred organizing paperwork in shoeboxes.

“I asked them, ‘Does that work for you?’” she said. “And it did, and that’s what’s important.“

A Calling

Reese understands that it can be hard at the beginning, especially for people tackling a project on their own.

“Try to be patient with yourself,” she said. “Don’t carve out an entire Saturday—budget small amounts of time to start—even just 15 minutes at a time. Try tackling one shelf or one little corner or maybe decorations from just one particular holiday.”

Inherently, it’s extremely personal work.

“Often times, I’m seeing the parts of people’s lives that they don’t want others to know are not so perfect,” she said.

So, trust is essential.

Reese understands that it isn’t always easy to let someone else see the less-than-HGTV-perfect parts of our lives and homes.

“It’s a big step to hire expert help, but it makes such a difference from the start,” she said. “I see the relief people start to feel as soon as they start to work through a project.”

But what’s it really like to let a personal organizer see behind the curtain, so to speak? To get a glimpse, I spoke with Vicki Holbrook, a client of Reese’s.

“I was struggling with carving out time to tackle some organizational projects,” she explained. “So, I figured scheduling someone to come in would force me to get started.”

Reese, said Holbrook, began by breaking down her large projects into manageable steps.

“I could tell right from the start that she wasn’t judgmental, nor did she make me feel like a lost cause organization-wise,” she said, laughing. “Plus, it’s just nice to work with someone by your side.”

Indeed, it’s always inspiring to meet people who love their work, and Reese, dating back to childhood, seems finally to have found her calling.

“Some of my greatest joys so far have been watching the transformations people experience as we work through things,” Reese said. “And they get organized.”

For more information on Consider It Done, call 717-991-9036 or visit www.consideritdonepa.com.

Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 29, 2019 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Post World War II Luxury Convertibles,” through April 28

“Dodge Brother Vehicles,” courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Dodge Brothers Club, through April 28.

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Seek-Scapes,” artwork by Josh McCausland, Luie Viisuals, Michael Hower and ZheKa, April 5-May 9; reception: April 5, 5-8 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“A Celebration of Student Art,” CALC’s annual collaboration with Carlisle Area School District showcases K-12 student artwork, through April 6

“Imagery and Field,” an exhibition of contrasts with paintings by Mary Hochendoner and color field work by Maaike Heitkönig, April 26-June 1

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Linda Bulkwalter

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

“Fiber Art Show,” decorative, functional and wearable art; hand-dyed fabric and hand-spun yarn by Millersburg Area Art Association members, April 3-May 11; reception: April 7, 1-3 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
40 Northeast Dr., Hershey
hersheyart.org

“Sundays, Sun Days & Sundaes,” membership spring show, through May 18

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

“Senior Show,” final works from senior students in the Studio Art program, through April 18

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

New works by Tara Chickey, Kelly Curran, Kristen Fava, Andrew Guth, Judy Kelly and Caleb Smith, through April 14

New works by Elaine Brady Smith, Christine Goldbeck, PD Murray, Richard Souders and Lori Sweet, April 16-May 12

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“Miniature to Monumental,” 3-dimensional works by Rick Summons, through April 1

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Oil still life paintings by Roseanne Wolfe, through April

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Big, Bigger, Biggest” showcasing sculptures and large-scale original wall art in a variety of media, April 5-June 1; reception: April 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. Second St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Clay—The Way of the Maker,” an exhibition featuring members of the Central PA Potters, April 5 to June 1; reception, April 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

“Student Honors Shows 1,” April 1-18; reception: April 4, 5:30-7 p.m.

“Student Honors Show 2,” April 24-May 9; reception: May 2, 5:30-7 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Dressed for Service: Pennsylvanians in the Great War,” through May 5

“Pennsylvania at War: World War I Posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives,” through Dec. 29

“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 29

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Studio Life,” the 2018 Fellows of Mt. Gretna’s Four Pillars Artist Residency, through April 28

“SAFSTOR,” an exhibition by Adam Diller consisting of photographic, video and audio ephemera from the partial-meltdown of Three Mile Island in 1979, through May 5

“Overlapping Tension,” featuring the work of Los Angeles-based artist Yasmine Diaz, Pittsburgh-based Vanessa German and Tucson, Ariz.-based Laura Tanner Graham, through May 5

“Visions of Place: Complex Geographies in Contemporary Israeli Art,” through May 19

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“Portals: The Gail Gray Project,” April 5-26

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art In The Wild,” naturally inspired trailside creations along Wildwood Park’s wandering trails and wetlands, April 13-Oct. 31

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Bonita Wagner

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Art gallery by children of St. Stephens Episcopal School, through April 18

Art gallery by Dave Yasencheck, April 19-May 16

Read, Make, Learn

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

April 3-24: Worsted Weight Socks, 4 Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
April 4, 11: Create a Sketchbook, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 5: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.
April 5, 12: Create a Sketchbook, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 17: Intro to Metal Jewelry—Learn to Love Your Jeweler’s Saw, 6-8 p.m.
April 24: Eggshell Mosaic Pendant, 6-8 p.m.
April 27: Sgraffito Tiles

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 11: Vegetarian Feast, 6-9 p.m.
April 19: Springtime in Paris, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 29: Beggin’ for Bacon, 6-9 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

April 4: This is My House, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 5, 19: Basic Email I & II, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 14: All Aboard the RMS Titanic, 1-2 p.m.
April 18: Device Club, 1-2:30 p.m.
April 23: Friends of East Shore Area Library Meeting, 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

April 6, 20: Cards & Coffee, 10 a.m.
April 11, 25: Community Knitters, 6 p.m.
April 13, 27: Family LEGO Club, 11 a.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

April 2: Curl Up with the Classics—“Little Women,” 10 a.m.
April 3: Moving Forward Book Group w/Hospice of Central PA, 1 p.m.
April 4, 18: Blood Pressure Screenings with UPMC Pinnacle, 1 p.m.
April 5: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 8: Philosopher’s Roundtable, 2 p.m.
April 8: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
April 9: Pennsylvania Trivia from A to Z, 7 p.m.
April 11, 23: Drop-In Family Story Time (ages 3-6), 6:30 p.m.
April 11, 25: Plot Twisters Teen Writers Group, 6:30 p.m.
April 12: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
April 13: Book vs. Movie—“Bridge to Terabithia,” 1:30 p.m.
April 14: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
April 19: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 22: Fredricksen Reads—“Beartown,” 7 p.m.
April 23: Journey of an Author with John Benedict, 7 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

April 13: Guest Workshop—Do More with Less w/ Kelly Buttermore and Justin Peters, 12-3 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
40 Northeast Dr., Hershey
hersheyart.org

April 23: Pastel Workshop, 12-4 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

April 1, 8, 15: Books and Babies, 9:30 a.m.
April 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17: 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
April 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Girls Who Code, 5:45 p.m.
April 3: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Sensory 1, 2, Whee!, 11 a.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Teen Lounge, 3 p.m.
April 4, 18: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26 : Dungeons and Dragons, 3 p.m.
April 5, 19: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
April 6: Photography Class, 9:30 a.m.
April 6: Egg Decorating Class, 1 p.m.
April 6: Adult Storytime, 2 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Chess Club, 1:30 p.m.
April 7: National Library Week Author Visit, 2 p.m.
April 10: In the Middle—Writing, 3 p.m.
April 10: Healthy Sun Habits, 7 p.m.
April 13: Writing a Book and Where to Begin, 1 p.m.
April 13: 2^nd Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
April 14: Friends’ Children’s Program— Yah-Oh-Way, 2 p.m.
April 17: In the Middle—Games, 3 p.m.
April 17: Adulting—Bullet Journaling, 5 p.m.
April 20: “While Reason Slept” w/ Tom Brier, 2 p.m.
April 22: Storytime with Teens, 11 a.m.
April 22: Central PA Blood Drive, 3 p.m.
April 23: Art in Science, 4 p.m.
April 24: Friend’s Meeting, 9:15 a.m.
April 24: Tween Lounge, 3 p.m.
April 27: Friends Student Film Festival, 2 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

April 2: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 30: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 3: Go With Your Gut—Pros of Probiotics, 7-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 4: Learn to Knit/Crochet, 7-8 p.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
April 8: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
April 8: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 9: Tax Help, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
April 10: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
April 10: Medicare 101, 7-8 p.m.
April 15: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
April 17: Instant Pot Techniques, 7-8 p.m.
April 18: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.–1 a.m.
April 22: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 23: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
April 24: Apple Users Group, 7-8 p.m.
April 24: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29^th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

April 10: Upcycled Book Journals, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 11: Let’s Vote!, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 24: Knit 1, Crochet Too!, 6-8 p.m.
April 27: Carve It Up! Soap Sculpting, 1-2 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

April 3, 10, 17, 24: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Passageways—Trans and Non-Binary Group, 2-4 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Common Roads Young Adult, 4 p.m.

April 13: Queer & Trans People of Color Advisory, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

April 3: Dungeons and Dragons, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
April 9: Book Page Origami, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 9, 23: Job Seekers Resources, 1-2:30 p.m.
April 15: Cookbook Book Club—Handhelds and Finger Foods, 6-7 p.m.
April 20: Our Amazing Planet, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

April 3, 10, 17, 24: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
April 13: Poetry and Pizza, 12-1:30 p.m.
April 19: Literary Trivia, 6-7 p.m.
April 23: Device Club, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St, Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: STEM Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
April 2, 16, 23, 30: Evening Family Yoga, 6-7 p.m.
April 4: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: LEGO Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Science Fiction Book Club (meets online)
April 13: Speed Date with a Book, 1-3:30 p.m.
April 15: Mystery Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 26: Trivia Night, 7-8 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 4: An Evening w/Robert Crease, 7-9 p.m.
April 5, 12, 26: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
April 6: An Evening w/Amy Murrell Taylor, 6-8 p.m.
April 6: An Evening w/Alison Dagnes, 6-8 p.m.
April 11, 18, 25: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
April 14: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.
April 15: An Evening w/Charles Fergus, 7-9 p.m.
April 17: An Evening w/Anthony Grooms, 7-9 p.m.
April 21: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
April 21: LGBT Book Club, 4:30 p.m.
April 24: An Evening w/Steve Luxenberg, 7-9 p.m.
April 27: Independent Bookstore Day, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
April 28: The Presidents—An Afternoon with Brian Lamb and Susan Swain, 4-6 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

April 6: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.

The Movement Center
2134 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg
717-238-0357; themovementcenter.net

April 14: Community Beginner Yoga Class, 10 a.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

April 1, 15: Monday Great Books Discussion, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 2: Tales for T.A.I.L.S., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 4: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 5: LEGO Madness, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 8: Build and Play (ages 3-6), 10:30 a.m.
April 8: Build and Play (ages 6-23 months), 10:30 a.m.
April 9: Book Review—“A Piece of the World,” 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 10: Adult Craft Program—Beaded Earrings, 1 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
April 10, 24: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 12: Preschool STEM Stations—Coding, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
April 13: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 20: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 20: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
April 22, 29: Twos & Threes Storytime, 11 a.m.
April 22, 29: Preschool Storytime, 1 p.m.
April 22, 29: 1-2-3 Library! Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m.
April 23, 30: Book Babies Storytime, 11:15 a.m.
April 24: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

April 2, 9, 23, 30: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 16: Makerspace (for kids in grades 1-6), 3:30-5 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

April 20: Encaustic Wax & Photo Transfer, 1-4 p.m.
April 27: Mindful Ikebana Workshop, 1-2 p.m.

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

April 7: Gerrymandering—A Guide to Congressional Redistricting, 8:45 a.m.
April 7: Christian Spirituality, 11:30 a.m.
April 13: Shawl Ministry, 10 a.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

April 5: Story Time—“Come Back Moon,” 10:30 a.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

April 17: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

April 6: Webelos Scout Program—Into the Woods, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 7: “Art in the Wild”—Meet the Artists, 1-3 p.m.
April 7: Kids Discover—Fish, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 11: “Art in the Wild” Lecture by Ted Prescott, 7-8 p.m.
April 13: Clean Up Your Earth Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 13: Stress Relief Walk, 10-11:30 a.m.
April 14: Flower Walk—Dutchman’s Breeches and Trout Lilies, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 18: Get in Shape Walk, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

April 2: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 4: Teen Night—Gardening on a Window Sill, 6-7 p.m.
April 8: Upcycled Book Journals, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 9: Friends of Alexander Family Library Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 10: 2^nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
April 16: Novel Thoughts Too Book Club, 1-3 p.m.
April 25: All Aboard the RMS Titanic, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 E. High St., Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

April 12: Story Hour, 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1 p.m.
April 13: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, 8:30-10 a.m.
April 13: Natural Egg Dyeing Class, 1 and 3 p.m.

Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Mindful Monday, 11:15-11:45 a.m.
April 6-27: Youth Yoga (grades 6-12), Saturdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
April 13: Family Yoga, 4-4:45 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

April 4: The Orchestra
April 5: Celtic Woman—Ancient Land
April 7: Engelbert Humperdinck
April 10: The Doobie Brothers
April 12: Kris Kristofferson & The Strangers
April 13: Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade
April 14: Stomp

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

April 5: Black Masala
April 6: Steal Your Face
April 13: Consider the Source
April 19: Hexbelt
April 20: Crippled But Free

April 26: Hip Pocket

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

April 6: York Symphony Orchestra
April 7: Pierre Fracalanza
April 14: York Junior Symphony Orhcestra

Boneshire Brew Works
7462 Derry St., Harrisburg
717-469-5007; boneshire.com

April 18: Zach & Virginia
April 25: Dave Gates

Carlisle Theatre
44 W. High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

April 13: Glee—A College A Cappella Competition
April 17: Unchained—The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

April 7: Duduka Da Fonseca
April 28: JD Allen

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

April 3: Pink Mexico, La Cicada
April 4: Scary Pockets, People’s Blues of Richmond
April 5: Flapjack Jones and the Bender Brohs, Tiny Meat Gang w/ Cody Ko and Noel Miller
April 6: The Scouts, Tyler Farr
April 10: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Alesana
April 11: Okily Dokilly
April 12: Knocked Loose, Wild Belle
April 13: Neil Hilborn, April 13: Split, Deep Rest
April 16: Veil of Maya, Intervals
April 19: Less Than Jake, Lower Wolves Tribute to R.E.M.
April 20: The POF, Big Boy Brass Band, L.A. Guns ft. Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis
April 20: Animal Years
April 24: Seaway
April 25: Trap Beckham
April 26: Aaron West, Sad & Boujee
April 27: Jake Miller
April 29: Black Stone Cherry
April 30: Combichrist

Champions Sports Bar & Grill
300 2nd St., Highspire
717-939-0488; championssportsbar.us

April 28: Frank Bey w/Gabe Stillman

Cliff’s Tavern
1104 Carlisle Rd., Camp Hill
717-412-7323; cliffstavern.com

April 3: Steve Rudolph & Erin Cruise
April 5: Stu Huggens
April 6: Shea Quinn & Luv Gods
April 7: Kevin Valentine & Gavin Horning
April 12: The SUM & The Mighty Klucks
April 19: Steel
April 20: Chasin Moody
April 26: Sight Unseen
April 27: Jelly Bricks

Club XL
801 S. 10^th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

April 5: Berrix
April 6: The Record Company
April 7: Sunsquabi with Defunk
April 11: Papadosio
April 12: Go Go Gadjet
April 13: Ryan Hurd, Tyler Rich, Riley Green, Dylan Scott
April 14: Earthgang
April 18: Lotus
April 19: Quasi Kings
April 20: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Murder by Death
April 25: The Werks
April 26: The Amish Outlaws
April 27: Mountain Road, Chapel Hill, Garrett Shultz, Grant Bryan

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 5: Antonio Andrade
April 6: Dominick Cicco
April 7: Betsy Barnicle
April 12: Michael Arthur
April 13: Joe Cooney
April 14: Shanna Rae
April 19: Janie Womack, Jody Echterling
April 20: Doug Morris
April 26: Kevin Kline
April 27: Hard Travelin’
April 28: Kirk Wise

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

April 14: Hiroya Tsukamoto

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

April 28: Special Music Program at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

April 13-14: Masterworks
April 17: Stuart & Friends (at Gamut Theatre)
April 27-28: “Whole Lotta Shakin” w/Dave Bennett

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

April 12: Hershey Symphony

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

April 5: The Uptown Band
April 6: DJ Magic, Live Wire, Honeypump
April 12: Sapphire
April 13: DJ Jayson Matrix, Smooth Like Clyde
April 19: Cazhmiere
April 20: DJ Ray Rossi, The Luv Gods
April 26: Light Up The Moon
April 27: DJ David Matrix, Green Eggs

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 5: Wicked
April 6: New Athens R.E.M. Tribute
April 6: Yvng Swag and DJ Jaybird
April 7: Entheos, Wolf King, Illusions of Grandeur
April 13: Jay Dayoungin, Yungeen Ace
April 20: Goolie, Visions of Greatness
April 22: Yella Beezy, BRxTN, Polo G, Bugg Bloe
April 25: Hed PE, Hate Grenade
April 27: Sponge, Tubefreeks

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 13: The United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus
April 26: The Drifters, The Platters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 6: Jazz Ensemble
April 12: Windy Symphony Masterworks
April 14: Sunderman Conservatory Symphony Band
April 27: Symphony Orchestra

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
113 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
717-258-1234; marketcrosspub.com

April 6: Octavia Blues Band
April 20: Soup Kitchen
April 27: Visitors Duo
April 28: Blues Brunch

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

April 24: Rolston String Quartet

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

April 9: Messiah College Jazz Combo
April 14: Time Warfield w/JazzONE
April 15: Chamber Ensemble
April 16: Messiah Collage Symphonic Winds and Brass Choir
April 26: Messiah College Symphony Orchestra
April 28: Messiah College Wind Ensemble

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

April 6: Sherri Mullen
April 13: Fred Pellegrini
April 20: Laredo/Duo
April 27: Radio Neon

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Feb. 23: Ray Owen

Palmyra Church of the Brethren
45 N. Chestnut St., Palmyra
717-838-6369; palmyracob.org

April 14: Taizé service

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

Aug. 3: Anne Guenin, Audrey Light, Marilyn Miller, Barbara Neff
April 10: Christopher Prestia
April 19: Sacred Music
April 21: Easter Service Music

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

April 15: River City Big Band
April 20: 4/20, Timmy’s Creep Show, Fat Randy, Babel Map

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

April 19: Kat Wright
April 26: The THE BAND Band

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral
221 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-4059; musicbytheriver.org

April 27: Voices of the Valley

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

April 6: Coffee House
April 7: Jam Session
April 13: Del Rey
April 26: John McCutcheon

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

April 6: Jazz and Java

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

April 19: Don Egan

The Stage Door

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

April 12: Dean Napolitano w/ Laurence Mullaney
April 27: “Pinkalicious The Musical”
April 27: Trinity Irish Dance Company

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

April 4-7: “Moon Over Buffalo”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

April 2-May 4: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

April 12-14: “As You Like It” w/The Young Acting Company
April 18: TMI Improv

HACC Theatre
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

April 11-14: “Spring Awakening”

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

April 12-14: “Passion Play 2019”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Open Mic
April 5, 6: Patrick Garrity & Ricky Reyes
April 12, 13: Rich Vos
April 14: Oxymorons Improv Comedy Show
April 19, 20: Larry Reeb & Roger Keiss
April 26, 27: Alex Ortiz & Sean Morton

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

April 5: Persnickety/Elderprov
April 12: Meow Meow Precious/Ferd Majelly, Guest Show—From Justin to Kelly/TBA
April 19: Persnickety/Room Temp
April 20: WoW MoM/Without a Tres
April 26: Meow Meow Precious/Mary Todd Lincoln
April 28: Magic Fairy Pirate Monkeys featuring Aesthetic Dying Duck

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

April 4-14: “The Glass Menagerie”

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheyentertainment.com

April 2-7: “On Your Feet!”
April 9: “Chicago”
April 18: Derek Hough
April 22-23: “RENT”
April 25: Brian Regan
April 27-28: “Paw Patrol Live”

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

April 26-May 11: “The Unexpected Guest”

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 5: “Kinky Boots”
April 18: “Rock of Ages”
April 28: Tim Hawkins

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 9: Tap Dogs
April 25, 26: Opera Workshop Performance

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

April 4-14: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

April 7-May 5: “The Kids You Read About in Textbooks”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

April 26-May 12: “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”

The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; allenberry.com

April 5-14: “The Odd Couple”

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

April 28: Risque Business

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

April 26-May 12: “Avenue Q”

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

April 25: “Saved by the Bell” (at Zeroday Brewing)

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

April 7: Celebrate Ballet & World Dance

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 13-14: “Romeo and Juliet” with Central PA Ballet
April 26-May 12: “Avenue Q”

Kids Meet Art: Perry County students showcase their work at Youth Art Day.

March 29, 2019 | by Don Helin

Photos courtesy of Shannon Rae Photography.

Thirty-six years ago, a group of volunteers founded the Perry County Council of the Arts (PCCA) in Newport.

One of their first priorities was developing a student art showcase to provide performance opportunities for Perry County youth. At that time, PCCA staff had initiated relationships with the county schools through artist residencies, and they wanted to build on those relationships.

So, PCCA worked with the schools to develop Youth Art Day, now an annual Perry County tradition that demonstrates the creative talents of public, private and home-schooled students.

“Youth Art Day is a fun and exciting day, and we’re thrilled with the growth of the program,” said Community Engagement Coordinator Tracy Meisinger-Troutman.

Over the years, the average number of entries in the event has grown to more than 700, and the average attendance for the one-day program is 900 to 1,000 people, she said.

There are three major categories in the program:

Dance, drama and music performances, including tap, ballet, mime, comedy, piano, vocal, brass, woodwind, strings and percussion
Literature, such as poetry, essay and short story
Visual arts and video, including drawing, painting, pottery, crafts, photography, graphic design, sculpture, recycled materials and video

For PCCA staff, ongoing challenges are ensuring that all artistic disciplines are represented and generating community excitement for the event. So, they work closely with teachers, who in turn spread their enthusiasm to their students.

“Another challenge is that families are faced with a number of competing activities on any given Saturday in April,” says Meisinger-Troutman.

Students get a chance not just to show off their talents, but to win cash prizes. Amounts of $100 are awarded in the categories of “Perry County’s Got Talent” for best performance in dance, drama, singing or instrumental performance, and for the “People’s Choice” award. The “Best in Show” winner takes home $250.

Also, art entries selected by PCCA board members in the “Director’s Choice Award” category will be on display at the PCCA gallery from June 22 to July 20, said Meisinger-Troutman.

“We have found this award thrills students, as their works will be on display at the same gallery where the artwork of more than 190 of the region’s most talented artisans is displayed,” she said. “The gallery is prominently located on the square in Newport.”

There are a number of special events this year, as well.

Professional artist Emily Nell will work with West Perry Middle School students as part of a PCCA Arts-In-Education residency the month before Youth Art Day. She will help students create art projects using the techniques of scherenschnitte (paper-cutting) and watercolor. Students will be invited to share their creations and their experiences in a culminating event.

A second special event will feature mural painting with teaching artist Jon Laidacker, who is currently working with students at Greenwood High School to create a mural highlighting the history of Liverpool. Historians from the Liverpool Historical Society also will be on hand to share with visitors the history of the borough.

On the literary side of the event, Poet Laureate Lynne Reeder, a West Perry High School English teacher, will host a reading of poems written by her creative writing students. Reeder was the Perry County Poet Laureate in 2016 and 2018 and PCCA Educator of the Year in 2017.

“We continue to review our programs to ensure families enjoy their weekend time at Youth Art Day,” said Meisinger-Troutman.

Perry County Council of the Arts Youth Art Day takes place April 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at West Perry High School, 2608 Shermans Valley Rd., Elliottsburg. Admission is $4 for adults, and students attend free. For more information, visit www.perrycountyarts.org.

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